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Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt

Laundry, dishes, fixing a meal, brushing our teeth – these are “usual” parts of our day that we probably don’t give much thought to. Mundane things – and often, they are activities that we try to hurry through so that we can move on to something more memorable or enjoyable. But, wait… If God has…

Seems like each day, one or more of my apps or computer programs has to be updated. And, sometimes, a single app or program updates more than once. Of course, most times, it’s important to keep these tools updated, but it can become frustrating, especially if you’re getting ready to close down all the electronic…

Is there a Teddy Bear in your closet? On a shelf in your living room? Or, (horrible thought) in a box in storage? You know what? It’s time. Maybe past time. It’s all right to let that Teddy Bear out! If you’re the kind of adult who thinks he or she has to face illness…

When I heard reports of the devastation from the earthquake in Nepal and neighboring countries, I thought of two things: I remembered a friend who had, a few years ago, climbed partway up Mt. Everest. I recalled what he had told me about the base camp, and my mind’s eye saw the pictures of his…

Have you ever prayed beneath the bright blue sky of God’s creation? Or knelt on soft grass and given thanks to its Creator? We might pray for rain, or for warm days to come after a hard winter. But besides praying for weather and other things of the earth, one of the best ways to get close…

However hard we try, sometimes, in life with a chronic illness, we are just not pretty. Rashes, hair loss, weight gain or loss, bruises, swelling in places we don’t want it – oh, the list is long! And, when the visible signs of chronic illness (or the audible sounds of an infection) are very, very…

When I was first diagnosed with lupus, one of the things I learned was that the fatigue of a flare can be overwhelming. “Bone-numbing” is a description I’ve used a lot to try to help others understand how beyond-tired I can suddenly feel.  Of course, as with many lupus patients, my diagnosis did not happen…

Long days of illness can wear on us, and often make us feel as if we are navigating choppy waters in a leaky boat all by ourselves. How well I know the feeling when I’m especially ill of the hours dragging on, thinking that everyone else is out in the world, busy, being productive, while…

It’s easy to pray for those we love. Friends, family, neighbors, people who help us or encourage us. But, what about praying for those people who have hurt us? Or, who have committed crimes, acts of violence, or other attrocities? It can be  much more difficult to pray compassionately for those whom we feel have…

A few days before Easter, I caught a really bad bug. I’ll spare the details, but suffice to say, it was one of those things that we with chronic illness (especially if we’re taking immunosuppressive drugs) dread. Not only does it make us feel absolutely miserable, but it throws everything else in our carefully-orchestrated lives…
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